Protective case for portable electronic device

ABSTRACT

A protective case includes a housing defining a receptacle for accommodating an electronic device including a main body and a display fixed to the main body, a first buffer layer fixed in the receptacle, a cover releasably latched to the housing, and a second buffer layer fixed to the cover. The first buffer layer encloses the main body to protect the main body from damage when the electronic device is accommodated in the receptacle. When the cover is latched to the housing, the second buffer layer, the second buffer layer contacts with and protect the display from damage.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The exemplary disclosure relates to cases for portable electronic devices, particularly, to a protective case for protecting portable electronic devices.

2. Description of Related Art

Protective cases are used to protect portable electronic devices of many different types and configurations, including but not limited to PDAs, tablet style personal computer (tablet PC), laptop computer, notebook, and personal stereos, thereby the display of the portable electronic device can be protected when not in use. However, typical protective cases can not efficiently prevent the electronic device from damage when the electronic device falls down.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the multifunctional case can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the multifunctional case.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a protective case according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the protective case of FIG. 1, and an electronic device is protected by the protective case.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the protective case of FIG. 2 along the line of IV-IV.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the protective case of FIG. 3 in a circle of IV.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 to 3 show an exemplary embodiment of a protective case 100. The case 100 is used to receive and protect an electronic device 200 like shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The case 100 includes a housing 10, a first buffer layer 20 fixed to the housing 10, a cover 30 and a second buffer layer 40 fixed to the cover 30. The cover 30 is latched to the housing 10 by a latching element 50, and a sealing element 60 is formed between the cover 30 and the housing 10 to seal a gap which may be formed between the cover 30 and the housing 10. The electronic device 200 is latched between the first buffer layer 20 and the second buffer layer 40. The electronic device 200 includes a main body 210 and a display 220 mounted on the main body 210.

The housing 10 includes a main board 11, a peripheral wall 12 protruding from an peripheral edge of the main board 11 and surrounding the main board 11, a plurality of first hooks 13. In this exemplary embodiment, the number of the first hooks 13 is six. The main board 11 and the peripheral wall 12 cooperatively enclose a receptacle 14 accommodating the electronic device 200.

Referring to FIG. 4, the first buffer layer 20 may be made of resin or silicone. The first buffer layer 20 has a shape similar to the housing 10, but is slightly smaller than the housing 10. The first buffer layer 20 includes a main section 21, and a side section 22 protruding from and surrounding the main section 21. A flange 23 protrudes from an outer surface of the side section 22 and surrounding the side section 22. A rib 231 protrudes from a surface of flange 23 facing away from the main section 21. The rib 231 surrounds the main section 21. The first buffer layer 20 is received in the receptacle 14 with the main section 21 covering the main board 11 and the side section 22 covering the peripheral wall 12. In this exemplary embodiment, the housing 10 and the first buffer layer 20 are integrally molded together by injection molding method

The cover 30 is latched to the housing 10 to form a compartment 70 accommodating the electronic device 200, to protect the electronic device 200 from damage. The cover 30 includes an inner surface 31, a groove 32 and a plurality of second hooks 33 equal to the first hooks 13. The groove 32 has a shape and a size corresponding to the rib 231. When the rib 231 is accommodated in the groove 32, the rib 231 is compressed by the cover 30, i.e., the rib 231 tightly contacts with the cover 30, to form the sealing element 60 so the compartment 70 is sealed by sealing element 60. The second hooks 33 are latched to the second hooks 33, forming the latching element 50 so the cover 30 and the housing 10 are latched together.

The second buffer layer 40 is made of a soft material, such as foam. The second buffer layer 40 is fixed (adhered) to the inner surface 31 of the cover 30.

Referring to FIG. 3, in use, the electronic device 200 is received in the receptacle 14. At this time, the first buffer layer 20 contacts with and encloses the main body 210, to protect the main board from damage. Each first hook 13 is latched with one of the second hooks 33 to latch the cover 30 to the housing 10. The second buffer layer 40 contacts with the display 220 to reduce shock due to an impact on the display 220. Additionally, the sealing element 60 seals the compartment 70 to prevent impurities, such as dust or water, from going into the display 220.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structures and functions of various embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective case used for protecting an electronic device including a main board and a display fixed to the main body, the protective case comprising: a housing defining a receptacle; a first buffer layer fixed in the receptacle; a cover latched to the housing; a second buffer layer is fixed to the cover.; wherein the cover and the housing cooperatively form a compartment therebetween to accommodate the electronic device such that the first buffer layer contacts with and protects the main body from damage, the second buffer layer contacts with and protects the display from damage.
 2. The protective case of claim 1, wherein a rib protruding from the first buffer layer and a groove defined in the cover, when the rib is accommodated in the groove, the rib is compressed by the cover to form a sealing element so the compartment is sealed by sealing element.
 3. The protective case of claim 2, wherein the first buffer layer includes a main section, and a side section protruding from and surrounding the main section; a flange protrudes from an outer surface of the side section and surrounding the side section; the rib protrudes from an surface of flange facing away from the main section.
 4. The protective case of claim 3, wherein the housing includes a main board, a peripheral wall protruding an peripheral edge of the main board and surrounding the main board; the main board and the peripheral wall cooperatively enclose the receptacle.
 5. The protective case of claim 4, wherein a plurality of first hooks protruding from peripheral wall, a plurality of second hooks protruding from the cover; each first hook is latched with one of the second hooks to latch the cover to the housing.
 6. The protective case of claim 5, wherein the cover includes an inner surface and a groove defined in the inner surface; the second buffer layer is fixed to the inner surface and surrounded by the groove.
 7. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the first buffer layer is made of resin or silicone.
 8. The protective case of claim 1, wherein the second buffer layer is made of a foam.
 9. A protective case, comprising: a housing defining a receptacle for accommodating an electronic device including a main body and a display fixed to the main body; a first buffer layer fixed in the receptacle, the first buffer layer use for enclosing the main body to protect the main body from damage; a cover releasably latched to the housing; a second buffer layer fixed to the cover; wherein when the cover is latched to the housing, the second buffer layer, the second buffer layer contacts with and protect the display from damage.
 10. The protective case of claim 9, wherein a rib protruding from the first buffer layer and a groove defined in the cover, when the rib is accommodated in the groove, the rib is compressed by the cover to seal a compartment formed between the cover and the housing.
 11. The protective case of claim 10, wherein the first buffer layer includes a main section, and a side section protruding from and surrounding the main section; a flange protrudes from an outer surface of the side section and surrounding the side section; the rib protrudes from an surface of flange facing away from the main section.
 12. The protective case of claim 11, wherein the housing includes a main board, a peripheral wall protruding a peripheral edge of the main board and surrounding the main board; the main board and the peripheral wall cooperatively enclose a receptacle.
 13. The protective case of claim 12, wherein a plurality of first hooks protruding from peripheral wall, a plurality of second hooks protruding from the cover; each first hook is latched with one of the second hooks to latch the cover to the housing.
 14. The protective case of claim 13, wherein the cover includes an inner surface and a groove defined in the inner surface; the second buffer layer is fixed to the inner surface and surrounded by the groove.
 15. The protective case of claim 9, wherein the first buffer layer is made of resin or silicone.
 16. The protective case of claim 9, wherein the second buffer layer is made of foam. 